Travel mug with a twist lid

ABSTRACT

A drinking vessel having a container with a hollow interior and a lid. The lid is connectable to the container and having an upper lid portion and a lower lid portion. The upper lid portion has a top surface and a drinking aperture located at the top surface. The lower lid portion includes a twist ring rotatable with respect to the upper lid portion. The lid also includes a sealing mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring so as to move between a closed position in which the sealing mechanism seals the drinking aperture and an open position in which the sealing mechanism unseals the drinking aperture. Further, the lid includes a spring mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring. When the twist ring is in its initial position, the sealing mechanism is positioned in the closed position sealing the drinking aperture, and when the twist ring is rotated into a first open position, the sealing mechanism is positioned in its open position and the spring mechanism is biased to return the twist ring into its initial position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application and its disclosure generally relate to the field of sealable drinking containers.

Drinking containers, including travel mugs, are well known in the art. Many conventional travel mugs provide a sealable drinking aperture. However, many of such conventional sealable travel mugs have certain limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its general aspect, the invention is a drinking vessel having a container with a hollow interior and a lid. The lid is connectable to the container and having an upper lid portion and a lower lid portion. The upper lid portion has a top surface and a drinking aperture located at the top surface. The lower lid portion includes a twist ring rotatable with respect to the upper lid portion. The lid also includes a sealing mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring so as to move between a closed position in which the sealing mechanism seals the drinking aperture and an open position in which the sealing mechanism unseals the drinking aperture. Further, the lid includes a spring mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring. When the twist ring is in its initial position, the sealing mechanism is positioned in the closed position sealing the drinking aperture, and when the twist ring is rotated into a first open position, the sealing mechanism is positioned in its open position and the spring mechanism is biased to return the twist ring into its initial position.

In a more specific aspect, the twist ring is configured to rotate into a second open position in which the twist ring is prevented from rotating unless additional force is applied, and the sealing mechanism is locked in its open position.

The above aspects, advantages and features are of representative embodiments only. It should be understood that they are not to be considered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims. Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by way of examples which are not a limitation, and the figures of the accompanying drawings in which references denote corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective rear view of the travel mug with a twist lid with the drinking aperture being closed.

FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective rear view of the travel mug with a twist lid with the drinking aperture being open.

FIG. 3 is another elevated perspective rear view of the travel mug with a twist lid with the drinking aperture being open.

FIG. 4 is an exploded front view of the travel mug with a twist lid.

FIG. 5 is another exploded front view of the travel mug with a twist lid.

FIG. 6 is an exploded rear view of the travel mug with a twist lid.

FIG. 7 is another exploded rear view of the travel mug with a twist lid.

FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the travel mug with a twist lid.

FIG. 9 is another exploded rear view of the travel mug with a twist lid.

FIG. 10 is an elevated perspective front view of the travel mug with a twist lid with the drinking aperture being closed.

FIG. 11 is an elevated perspective front view of the travel mug with a twist lid with the drinking aperture being open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the attached FIGS. 1-11, the invention is a travel mug 10 having a container 20 and a lid 30. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the container has a hollow interior 22 for holding a liquid and a threaded inner neck 24. A corresponding outer threaded surface 36 is formed on the lid allowing the lid to be twisted into the container so as to enclose the hollow interior.

The lid 30 preferably includes an upper lid portion 32 and a lower lid portion 34, the lower lid portion being rotatable with respect to the upper lid portion and the container 20. The lid also includes a top surface 38 with a drinking aperture 40 located thereon. When the drinking aperture 40 is open, liquid from the hollow interior 22 flows freely through the drinking aperture. Correspondingly, when the drinking aperture 40 is closed, liquid is precluded from flowing from the hollow interior 22 of the container 20.

The lower lid portion 34 is preferably formed as a twist ring 44 with a notch 46. Notch 46 extends from an outer surface of the twist ring and is configured to accommodate a user's finger. Twist ring 44 is preferably mechanically coupled to a drinking aperture sealing mechanism 42 via a ramp 48. Sealing mechanism 42 preferably includes a sealing arm 54 with a first seal 50 for sealing the drinking aperture 40 and a second seal 52 for sealing a ventilation opening. When the user turns the twist ring 44 slightly by, for example, pressing a finger against the notch 46, ramp 48 presses against the sealing arm 54 of the sealing mechanism 42 such that its seal 50 is moved away from the drinking aperture, thus opening the aperture for drinking.

The twist ring 44 is also mechanically coupled to a spring mechanism 56 biased to return the twist ring into the original, i.e., closed position. When the user is done drinking, he/she releases the twist ring from the above-described open position, by, for example, releasing the notch 46, and the spring mechanism 56 springs the twist ring 44 back into the initial position thereby returning the sealing arm 54 with its seals into their initial position and closing the drinking aperture. The above-described open position of the twist ring 44 is hereafter referred to as a first open position. At this position, the drinking aperture is open, and the user can drink the liquid located within the container, as long as the user maintains the slight pressure against the notch 46 to keep the twist ring 44 slightly rotated.

By rotating the twist ring 44 further, i.e., beyond the first open position, the twist ring can be positioned into a second open position, in which the twist ring and, correspondingly, the sealing mechanism 42, is locked in a continuously open position without requiring the user to hold his/her finger on the twist ring. Thus, unless an additional force is applied to the twist ring, the drinking aperture will remain open. A locking means is provided to lock the twist ring 44 and the sealing mechanism 42 in the second open position and to prevent the spring mechanism from returning the twist ring and the sealing mechanism into the initial, i.e., closed, position.

The upper lid portion 32 preferably includes a lip 58 and a notch 60. Lip 58 preferably extends from the top surface 38 and is ergonomically shaped to allow liquid to flow from the drinking aperture 40 into the user's mouth. Notch 60 preferably corresponds in shape to the notch 46 of the lower lid portion 34. As shown in FIG. 1, notches 60 and 46 are preferably vertically aligned when the twist ring 44 is in its closed position. Notches 60 and 46 are preferably radially distanced (as shown, for example in FIGS. 2 and 3) when the twist ring is in its first and/or second open position. The notches facilitate the twisting movement of the twist ring 44 relative to the upper lid portion 32.

To facilitate the ease of movement of the twist ring 44 with respect to the upper lid portion 32, a ball bearing mechanism 62 is provided between the upper lid portion and the lower lid portion.

The lid is further provided with a locking mechanism including a lock switch 64 and a locking shaft 66. Lock switch 64 is preferably located at the notch 46 of the twist ring 44. When the lock switch 64 is activated, locking shaft 66 locks the upper lid portion 32 to the lower lid portion 34 thereby preventing the twist ring from rotating. Thus, the locking mechanism locks the twist ring in the initial, i.e., closed, position and prevents the drinking aperture from being opened.

The internal components of the lid 30, for example, the sealing mechanism 42, the spring mechanism 56, the ramp 48 and the bearing mechanism 62 are preferably enclosed within a housing 68 secured at the bottom with a detachable bottom screw 70. When lid 30 is detached from the container 20, bottom screw 70 can be unscrewed fully opening the inside mechanisms for cleaning.

The surface of the twist ring is preferably provided with a textured silicone grip to make it easier fur the user to rotate the twist ring.

The travel mug of the present invention allows a user to easily twist the twist ring of the lid with an index finger to unseal the drinking aperture and to allow liquid to flow. When the user lets go, the ring will automatically return into its initial position re-sealing the drinking aperture to prevent any spills when not in use. If the user wants to continually drink the liquid without unsealing the aperture every time, he/she can simply twist the twist ring a bit further and it will click into place leaving the drinking aperture open.

The notch on the back of the twist ring allows a surface for the user to push, opening the drinking aperture. Additionally, this notch holds the locking mechanism for the lid. When the locking switch is in the up position the twist ring is blocked from twisting, keeping the drinking aperture sealed. When the locking switch is in the down position, the twist ring is free to rotate allowing the user to drink. Having the locking switch on the back of the mug allows the user to easily reach and toggle the lock with one hand.

In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A drinking vessel comprising: a container having a hollow interior; and a lid configured to be connected to the container and having an upper lid portion and a lower lid portion, the upper lid portion having a top surface and a drinking aperture located at the top surface, the lower lid portion including a twist ring rotatable with respect to the upper lid portion, the lid further comprising a sealing mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring so as to move between a closed position in which the sealing mechanism seals the drinking aperture and an open position in which the sealing mechanism unseals the drinking aperture, the lid further comprising a spring mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring, wherein when said twist ring is in its initial position, said sealing mechanism is positioned in the closed position sealing said drinking aperture; and wherein said twist ring is configured to rotate into a first open position in which the sealing mechanism is positioned in its open position and said spring mechanism is biased to return said twist ring into said initial position.
 2. The drinking vessel according to claim 1, wherein said twist ring is configured to rotate into a second open position in which the twist ring is prevented from rotating unless additional force is applied, and said sealing mechanism is locked in its open position.
 3. The drinking vessel according to claim 1, wherein said twist ring further comprises a notch extending from an outer surface of the twist ring and configured to accommodate a user's finger.
 4. The drinking vessel according to claim 3, wherein said upper lid portion further comprises a second notch extending from an outer surface of said upper lid portion, and wherein in said initial position of said twist ring, said notch and said second notch are vertically aligned.
 5. The drinking vessel according to claim 3, wherein said twist ring further comprises a locking mechanism located at said notch, and wherein, when said locking mechanism is activated, said twist ring is blocked from twisting.
 6. The drinking vessel according to claim 1, wherein the upper lid portion comprises a lip extending from said top surface, said lip being ergonomically shaped to allow liquid to flow from said drinking aperture into a user's mouth.
 7. A drinking vessel comprising: a container having a hollow interior; and a lid configured to be connected to the container and having a first lid portion and a second lid portion, the first lid portion having a drinking aperture, the second lid portion being at least partially rotatable with respect to the first lid portion, the lid further comprising a sealing mechanism mechanically coupled to the second lid portion so as to move between a closed position in which the sealing mechanism seals the drinking aperture and an open position in which the sealing mechanism unseals the drinking aperture, the lid further comprising a spring mechanism mechanically coupled to the second lid portion, wherein when said second lid portion is in its initial position, said sealing mechanism is positioned in the closed position sealing said drinking aperture; and wherein said second lid portion is configured to rotate into a first open position in which the sealing mechanism is positioned in its open position and said spring mechanism is biased to return said second lid portion into said initial position. 